5 college football coaches in line to win their first national title this year

And if we’re going to include Dan Mullen and his Florida Gators on this list, you knew Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs were sure to follow. In the last three years, Georgia has won the SEC East every season, never lost to Florida and played for a shot at the College Football Playoff every December in Atlanta. Though they haven’t been since 2017, Georgia is knocking on the doorstep.

As is Georgia, should be able to go 10-2 at the very worst in its 2020 schedule, although 11-1 is probably the most likely. The Dawgs’ two toughest games are at Alabama in September and their annual rivalry with Florida down in Jacksonville. Beating Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa feels like an early-season loss, but one Smart and his Dawgs should be able to overcome.

We know Georgia will have a good defense, as defensive coordinator Dan Lanning just might be good enough to merit a Power 5 head coaching gig of his own during the next ride on the coaching carousel. The Dawgs recruit at a level few programs can compete with. But what their 2020 campaign comes down to is if the offense will come alive under new quarterback Jamie Newman.

The graduate transfer signal-caller from Wake Forest might be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Then again, didn’t we all say the same thing about Jake Fromm in the 2020 NFL Draft, and we all saw how that went. Ultimately, Georgia should be a top-six team in college football again next year. With a few lucky bounces and an upset or two, Smart can win it all for his alma mater.